Senator Baldwin Statement on Vote for the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Implementation Act and Support for the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement on her vote for the Europe's Energy Security Implementation Act and her support for the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022:

“I have long opposed Nord Stream 2 and believe the United States and its allies must do whatever is in our power to prevent this pipeline project from coming online and being used by the Russian government as a weapon against our European partners, including Ukraine and other frontline allies in the Baltic region. As Vladimir Putin escalates his provocative aggression toward Ukraine, we must stand firm and hold the Kremlin accountable for their past actions and develop tools to deter future aggression. We are right to issue sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to punish Russia for using energy exports through existing pipelines as a destabilizing political tool against our European Allies and for its increasingly provocative military buildups on Ukraine’s border, and only reassess these sanctions if Russia’s actions improve. In addition, Congress should make clear that we will unleash more comprehensive sanctions in response to an invasion of Ukraine as a deterrent to Putin and that is why I also support the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022. Finally, I applaud the Biden Administration for working with our allies, including Germany, to make clear that if Russia does invade Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 will never become operational and Russia will face consequences for their actions with a punishing set of financial, technology and military sanctions.”

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